Thread-drawing machine.



C. R. SWAIN.

THREAD DRAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1909.

Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEETI WITNESSES C. R. SWAIN.

THREAD DRAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1909.

Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2;

WITNESSES.

C. R. SWAIN.

THREAD DRAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ,FEB- 3. 1909 Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- WITNESSES CHARLES R. SWAIN, 0F RICHMDND HILL, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSTGBL ll/IE'N'IS, T0 FISHEB-THREIAD DRAWING MACHINECQMEANY, A GUFREGRATIQN WEST VIFGINIA.

nil-races.

THREAD-DEAWING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 19%. Serial Ho. 475,765.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES R. SWAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Richmond Hill, county of Queens, and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Thread-Drawing Machines, ofwhich the following is a description.

This invention relates to mechanism for' curacy; to provide acombination of elements which, in their cooperation, produce drawnworkwhich cannot be distinguished from hand-drawn work after thehemstitching and spoke-stitching operations have been completed on thefabric; to provide a combination of thread-deflecting, thread-cutting,feeding and presser-t'oot mechanisms, which, in their cobperation,handle the work with certainty and positiveness and which obviate thenecessity of guides or other special devices for guiding the work andcontrolling it as it passes through the machine; and to provide in thecombination just mentioned certain specific features of construction ofthe several mechanisms which cooperate to 'produce the functions of themachine. 4

With the above objects in view, and 0thers which will be detailed duringthe course of this description, my invention consists in the elements,features, mechanisms, and combinations of elements and mechanisms ashereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have provideddrawings wherein:

Firgure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig.2 is a topplan view of the mechanism below the clothplate, the latterbeing broken away to show the parts; Fig. 3 is a plan viewof theworkplate at one end of the machine showing in top-plan thepresser-foot, ledger-blade and filling plate; Fig. 4 is a section on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing also the rotary cutter and a portion of thefeeding mechanism below the work-plate; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.3 showing in top-plan the same parts as the latter figure, but with thepresserfoot removed, and in consequence, disclosing the teed-dogs; Fig.6 is a side elevation of the rotary cutter and its support; Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of the presser-toot on the line 77 of Fig. 3; andFig. 8 is a side elevation and cross section of the thread-deflectingblade.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the bed or work-plateof the chine, which supports the top frame com posed of the verticalstandard 2 with the overhanging arm 3, having at its outer end the head4, in which operate the presser-bar 5 and the thread-deflecting ordrawing blade-bar 6. The overhanging arm has journaled therein therotary driving-shaft 7, on one end of which is the drive-pulley andbalance wheel 8, and on the other end of which is the actuating-crank 9,pivotally connected to one end of a link 10, which in turn is, at itsother end, pivotally connected to a block 11, clamped to the blade-bar6, which carries at its lower end the thread drawing orthread-deflecting blade 12. This blade is formed into a sharp,penetrating point 13 and on one side is provided with a series of teethmade, see Fig. 8, so as to pro vide a sharp point 14, for picking up orengaging a warp or weft thread, as the case may be, from which point anoblique wall 15 ascends to junction with a vertical wall 16,

thus forming a crotch 17. The points 14: are

Patented July 8, Y

spaced apart laterally, so as to give the blade a taper on that side andto locate them so that they will engage successive, parallel threads toawidth corresponding to the lateral distance between the first and lastpoint.

Each point catches one or more threads, which slide up the inclined wall15 into the crotch 17 and are then carried down through the work-plateand drawn, thus leaving short lengths dangling or depending to be cutoff, as presently described- The oblique walls 15 are not sharpened, butare rounded or dulled so as to not break or snap the threads afterdeflecting the same, instead of cutting said threadsbefore deflecting.The head also supports the resser-bar 5, in the manner usual in sewingmachines, which is springcontrolled and capable of being lifted by ahand-lever in precisely the same manner as in the ordinary sewingmachine, and as this structure is very common it has been deemedunnecessary to illustrate the same.

' The lower end of the bar 5, carries a presser-foot, see Figs. 3, 4 and7, the shank 18 of which is fixed to the bar in any suitable way, saidshank having the two parallel arms 19, to each of which is connected afoot or pad comprising the flat, clothclamping portion 20 and two,vertical, parallel bars 21, between which one of the arms 19 is insertedand to which latter the pad is loosely connected by. means of pins 22,extending transversely through the arms 19 of the shank and the bars 21of the foot,

.the latter being provided with vertical, elongated slots 23 in whichsaid pins freely play. The normal, depressed position of the pads on theshank-arms is maintained by means of a leaf-spring '24, which is curvedlongitudinally and set between the shank-arms and the top surface of thepad 20, between the parallel bars 21 thereof. Hence, when thepresser-bar is allowed to descend so'as to bring the pads or feet intocooperation with the feed-dogs of the feeding mechanism, said pads orfeet will cooperate yieldingly with said feed-dogs in addition to, andindependently of, the yielding pressure imparted to them by means of theusual coiledspring surrounding the presser-bar having the normaltendency, as in sewing machines, to force the presser-foot upon theworkplate. The special function of the inserted springs is to enable thefeed to yield relatively to the presser-bar or relatively to the arms ofthe shank, and relatively to each other, so that, when the foot isdepressed against the material and the feed-dogs-cooperate therewith,the clamping action of the feet and feed-dogs is yielding while there isan independent, relatively yielding movement between said feet and dogs.is important in connection with fine fabrics,

such as muslins, lawns, and the very fine linens which are usually madeinto handkerchiefs, and in connectlon with varying thicknesses of work.

Viewing Fig. 3, it will be seen that the right-hand pad or foot is madewith a widened inner portion 25in the rear and a narrowed portion 26 infront, making the shoulder 27, and that the left-hand pad ,or foot isprovided with the widened inner portion 28 in front and the narrowedportion 29 in the rear, making the opposing shoulder 30, the twoshoulders being separated a short distance and leaving between them asmall space 31, through which the deflecting-blade 12 reciprocates. Eachpad or foot along its outside is formed with the widened portion meepeaThis 32. By forming the pads or feet in this manner, the fabric is heldflat and smooth all around the point of penetration of the blade and, asthe blade goes down into the fabric, the latter is prevented from beingdistorted, and as the blade rises from the fabric the latter isprevented from being drawn up, the adjacent portions of the two pads orfeet, around the space or opening 31, operating as a stripper.

The work-plate has set therein two separate throat-plates 33 and 34, theinner edges of which, see Fig. 5, are separated to leave a transverseslot between the two, in which are set the filling-plate 35, and theledgerblade 36, the latter being beveled from its top to its bottom soas to provide a cutting edge 37, and said plate and blade being arrangedin alinement with their adjacent ends separated the same distance as thetwo shoulders of the presser-feet are separated, for the purpose ofcontinuing saidopening 31 and allowing the free reciprocation of theblade through the work-plate. Each of the throat-plates is provided witha wide outer slot 38 and a narrow inner slot 39, the several slots beingarranged in parallelism and extended transversely of the said plates andof the machine These slots receive the several portions of thefeed-dogs, which operate therethrough into cooperation with theresser-feet and the intervening portions 40 of each of the throat-platesconstitute a bar which supports the workand which enters the slotbetween the two parts of the feeddog when the latter is projectedthrough the throat-plates for the purpose of feeding the work aspresently described. The fillingplate is made adjustable longitudinallyon the work-plate by enlarging the end 41 thereof and longitudinallyslotting the same at 42 for the passage of a clamping-screw latter beingcountersunk at 44 to receive said enlarged end 41 and permitit to beadjusted therein,- the filling-plate surface being flush with thework-plate surface. The ledger:

ioo

blade 36 is arranged in the work-plate in'v the countersink 45, andprovided with an enlarged end 46, having a slot 47, through which ispassed a clamping-screw 48',- tapped into the work-plate, all preciselyas the filling-plate. Each throat-plate 33 and 34 is provided with asolid portion 49, next to and paralleling the filling-plate andledgerblade. By loosening the clamping-screws,

the filling-plate and ledger-blade may be adjusted to proper position soas to make the opening, for the thread-drawing blade between the two,larger or smaller as the case may be, or to maintain the same of auniform width should the ledger-blade be reduced in len h by sharpeningthe same to keep an edge t ereon.

The feeding mechanism is, generally inaaoea speaking, of the four-motiontype and comprises the rock-shaft 50, journaled at its opposite ends inbrackets of the cloth-plate and provided at its forward end with the twocrank-arms 51 arranged in parallelism and each carrying a grooved,pivoted shoe 52, receiving a feed-bar 53, the said bars being arrangedin parallelism and connected at their opposite ends to and by a pin 54:to a crank-arm 55, carried by a rock-shaft 56, journaled at its oppositeends in brackets of the work-plate. Each of the feed-bars carries a dog,which is fixed thereto in any-suitable way, each dog being provided witha wide bar 57 and a narrow bar 58, the upper surfaces ofwhieh areserrated and which. operate, respectively, through the wide and narrowslots of the throat-plates. The rockshaft 50 is driven by the yoke 59,fixed thereto between its ends and actuated by an eccentric 60, fixedupon the cutter-shaft 61, which is journaled to rotate substantially inthe center of the bed of the machine in bearings 62 thereof, there beingthree bearings for I said shaft, one at the rear end, one substanat theforward end. Said cutter-shaft also carries a pinion 63, fixed by itscollar thereto, which meshes with a gear 64, provided in its face with acam-groove, not shown,in which. runs an anti-friction roll, not shown,carried by a pin 65, set in the crank-arm 66 on one end of a shortrock-shaft 67, journaled in a hanger 68, secured to the bottom of thework-plate, a crank-arm 69 on the other end of said rock shaft which isgrooved longitudinally for the reception of an anti-friction rollcarried by a pin 70 on one end of a link 71, the other end of which. ispivotally connected to a crank 72, carried by the feed rock-shaft 56.This mechanism is of the usual type for imparting the longitudinalreciprocation to the feed-dogs with such variations in the length ,ofsaid reciprocations as may. be produced by adjusting, in vthe ordinarymanner, the pin 70 onthe link 71 longitudinally of the vibratory groovedarm 69. The eccentric and yoke-arm 59 give to the shaft 50 a'rock- .1

ing motion, which, through the crank-arms 51, carrying the shoes 52,supporting the feed-bars 53, imparts to the latter the vertical rise andfall, thus securing the usual four motions of the now well-knownfour-motion feed. Further details of this feed-actuating mechanism havenot been illustrated, since my invention does not reside in the detailsof construction, but in its combination with the other cooperatingelements 'of the thread-drawing mechanism. An important feature of myinvention resides in the duplex character; of this feeding mechanism andthe cotiperating presser-foot mechanism, since, by makin the feed-dogsindependent and the feet in ependent, I am enabled to two may have aperfect cooperation.

obtain a relative yielding movement between the two sets of devices forthe purposes previously stated; locate the dogs and feet on oppositesides of the path of reciprocation of the thread-drawing blade; separatethe dogs to allow space for said blade and for the rotary cutter,presently described, to operate in; provide a work-support andclampingefoot at practically every point around the thread-drawingpoint; and absolutely insure the stripping of the work from said blade,provide a positive but yielding clamp for the work, prevent the workfrom being dragged through the work-plate at any point, compel the workto be fed evenly on opposite sides of the thread-drawing line, andinsure the production of a straight line of thread-drawing.

The cutter-shaft 61 is caused to rotate through links 73 connectedthereto at their lower ends and driven at their upper ends by eccentrics74 carried by the main-shaft 7 in the usual manner. The forward end ofthe cutter-shaft has fixed thereto, see Figs. 2 and 6, thecutter-carrier 75 to the outer end of which is pivotally connected thecuttersupport 76, by means of the screw or headed pin 77, the saidcutter-support being provided with the opposite lugs'78, through whichare tapped adjusting-screws 79, between the inner ends of which isarranged the extension of the cutter-support 76. By manipulating thesescrews,'the cuttersupport can be adjusted on the carrier to regulate theposition of the cutter-blade 81 relatively to the ledger-blade 36, sothat the The upper end of the cutter-support is elongated, as shown, andthereto is adjustably fixed the shank of the cutter by means of theclamping-screws 82, which pass through elongated slots 83 in said shankand are tapped into the carrier.

The cutter comprises the shank and the bladeportion 84, arranged at anangle thereto, the forward edge of which is inclined and beveled fromits bottom to its I top to provide the cutting-edge 85. A pilot or'horn86 is carried by the cutter-blade at its forward end and-preferably atone extreme side, the same being formed integral therewith and beinggiven a longitudinal perfect shearing action as said cutter-bladeispassing under and in contact with the ledger-blade. Primarily, theouter-blade can be adjusted on its .carrier, by screws 82, so as toplace the same in substantially the correct cooperative relation withthe ledgerblade and, after this first adjustment has been made, or if atany time the proper adjustment should be lost, the cutter-blade can beadjusted into proper cooperative relation with the ledger-blade bysimply manipulating the two adjusting-screws 79, cooperating with theshort end 80 of the supporting-lever. The rotary cutter operates in thespace between the two feedbars and below the slot between the twothroat-plates, and directly under the fillingplate and ledger-blade,and, consequently, between the two feed-dogs, this making a simple andcompact arrangement producing a perfect balance of the mechanisms andaccurate handling of the work, since the latter is engaged by theyielding feet and the positively actuated feed-dogs on opposite sides ofthe point or line of penetration of the thread-deflecting blade andengaged with equal pressure all around said point of penetration, thusavoidingany possibility of distorting or dragging the work; and when therotary cutter cooperates with its ledger-blade, itv engages the danglingthreads which have been deflected or drawn downwardly by the blade, sothat, if the cutter should become dulled in operation, the drag on thework would be against an equal pressure all around the cutting point orpoint of cooperation of the two blades. The disposition of the partsshown is also such that there is a perfect feeding cooperation betweenthe presser'feet and the feeddogs resulting in feeding the work properlyin a perfectly straight line across the workplate, thus maintaining astraight line of thread-drawing during the operation of the machinewithout the aid of guides or other auxiliary devices, and rendering iteasy and simple for the most inexperienced operative to handle thefabric and present it to the machine for the thread-drawing op erations.

From the foregoing detailed description, the mode of operation will bereadily understood from the following: Motion being imparted in anysuitable way to the driving-shaft through the medium of the pulley, theblade-bar 6 is caused to vertically reciprocate. The fabric having beenplaced on the work-plate in proper position under the presser-foot andthe latter lowered into clamping contact, the feeding mechanism willoperate in the usual manner to feed the fabric from front to rear ortransversely of the machine during the reciprocations of the blade. Theblade-point will penetrate niaaoea the work and, as it descends, itsteeth or points will catch the warp or weft threads,

as the case may be, and the latter will be carried into the crotch ofeach tooth of the blade and then downwardly deflected and drawn throughthe work. The blade then ascends and, as it leaves the cloth-plate, therotary cutter sweeps around and engages the dangling threads extendingbetween its cutting-edge and the edge of the ledgerblade and cuts thesame off close to the bottom surface of the work with a smooth shearingaction. The feed then takes place by the dogs rising through the slotsin the throat-plates and clamping the work against the bottom of thepresser-feet, and then moving forward, carrying the work with them forthe adjusted distance, whereupon said dogs will descend below thethroatplates followed by the presser-feet, which will clamp the workfirmly against the solid parts of the throat-plate surrounding the pointof penetration of the drawing-blade, the said feed-dogs then movingtoward the front of the machine preparatory to rising again for theirgripping and feeding action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimand desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; and feeding and presser-foot mechanisms cooperating to advancethe work to and from the deflecting means; the presser-foot mechanismcomprising a plurality of independent, substantially L-shaped, movablefeet disposed so as to produce a centrally-Located opening, and tosubstantially inclose the area, within which the deflecting meansoperates, whereby the "fabric is held firmly against stress of saiddeflecting means; and means for severing the deflected threads.

2. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; feeding and presser-foot mechanisms cooperating to advance thework to and from the deflecting means; the presser-foot mechanismcomprising a bar having a shank pro vided with parallel arms, a footmounted on each arm so as to have vertical movement thereon, and aspring interposed between each of said feet and its supporting-arm toyieldingly depress the same into engagement with the work; and means forsevering the deflected threads.

3. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, means fordeflecting the threads from the body of the fabric; means for feedingthe fabric; a presser-foot having a plurality of independently movablemembers of substantially L-shape arranged in overlapped or interlockedrelation so as to substantially inclose the area of operation of thethread-deflecting means and prevent intense movement of the fabric; andmeans for severing the deflected threads.

4. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, aledger-blade; a fillingplate opposed to said ledger-blade and formingtherewith .an open throat; thread-deflecting means operating in saidthroat; means for feeding the fabric; a presserfoot; and meanscoiiperating with said ledger-blade to sever the deflected threads.

5. Ina machine of the ciass described, and in combination, means fordeflecting thethreads from the body of the fabric; means for feeding thefabric; a ledger-blade; .a filiingplate opposed to said ledger-blade andproviding a threat for the thread-defleeting means between the two;means for securing a relative adjustment between said ledger-blade andsaid filling-plate; a presser-foot; and means coiiperating with saidledger-blade to sever the deflected threads.

' filling-plate 6. in a machine of the class described, and

in combination, means for deflecting the threads from the body of thefabric; means for feeding the fabric; a ledger-blade; a means foradjusting said ledger-blade; means for adjusting said filling-plate toform a threat for the threaddefiecting means between the two; 'apresserfoot; and rotary means cotiperating with said ledger-blade tosever the deflected threads.

therewith to sever the deflected threads.

8. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, avertically-reciprocating thread-deflect ng device; a feeding mechanism;a presser-foot mechanism; a divided throat-plate having slots throughwhich the feed-dogs of the feeding mechanism operoperates; a cuttercoiiperating with said ledger-blade; and means for actuating the cutter.

9. In a thread-drawing machine, and in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; fabric-feeding and presser-foot mechanism cooperating to advancethe work; thread-cut ting mechanism embodying a rotary cutter; and meansfor adjusting said cutter diametrically with respect to its axis ofrotation. a

10. In a thread-drawing machine, and in combination, thread defiectingmeans; fabric-feeding andpresser-foot mechanism (30- operating toadvance the work; thread-cutting mechanism embodying a rotary cutter;

. and means for adjusting said cutter to and from its axis of rotation.

11. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; feeding and presser-foot mechanism coiiperating to advance thework relatively to the defleeting means; thread-cutting mechanismcomprising a rotary thread-cutter; and a pilot carried by said cutterfor maintaining it in its proper operative path.

' 12. A thread-drawing machine having, in

combination, thread-deflecting means; feeding and presser-foot mechanismcooperating to advance the work relativeiy to the deflecting means;thread-cutting mechanism comprising a rotary thread-cutter; aledgerblade coiiperating therewith; and a curved extension carried atthe forward end of said thread-cutter for cooperating with saidledger-blade to compel the proper cotiperative action of the two. i

13. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; feeding and presser-foot mechanism cotiperating to advance'theworlr relatively to the defiecting -means; thread cutting mechanismcomprising a rotary thread-cutter; a ledgerblade cooperating therewith;and means for adjusting said ledger-blade relatively to the path ofmovement of said cutter.

14. In a machine of the class described,

' and in combination, means -for deflecting threads from the body of thefabric; means.

for feeding the fabric; suitable Presser-foot mechanism cotiperatingwith said feedingmeans; a rotary cutter to sever the deflected threads;and means for adjusting said cutter angulariy.

15. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, means fordeflecting threads from the body of the fabric; means for feeding thefabric; suitable .presscnfoot mechanism coiiperating with said feedingmeans; a rotary cutter to sever the deflected threads; a pivotal supportfor said rotary cutter; and means for adjusting said cutter angularlyabout said support.

16. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, means fordeflecting threads from the body of the fabr c; means for feeding thefabric; suitable presser-foot mechanism coiiperating with said feedingmeans; and a rotary cutter to sever said de- 'flected threads,said-cutter comprising a rotary carrier, a bladesupport pivotallymounted on said carrier, and means for adju'sting said blade-supportangularly about its pivotal support; I

' 17. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, meansfordeflecting thre'ads from the body of the fabric; means for feedingthe fabric; suitable presser-foot mechanism cooperating with saidfeeding .means; and a rotary cutter to sever the deflected threadscomprising a rotary carrier, a blade-support pivotally mounted on saidcarrier, and a pair of adjustable screws to hold the said blade-supportin a predetermined posi tion and, provide for its angular adjustment.

18. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, means fordeflecting threads from the body of the fabric; means for feeding thefabric; suitable presser-foot mechanism coiiperating with said feedingmeans; a rotary cutter to sever the deflected threads comprising arotary carrier, a blades'upport pivotally mountedon said carrier, and apair of adjustable screws to hold said blade-support in a predeterminedposition and provide for its angular adjustment; and a blade adjustableon said support. I

19. A thread-drawing machine having, in combination, thread-deflectingmeans; feeding and presser-foot mechanism cooperating to advance thework relatively to the -defleeting means; thread cutting mechanismtherefor, and means engaging the carrier for controlling its initialoperative position.

20. In combination with mechanism for deflecting threads of the bodyfabric, a cutting mechanism for cutting the deflected threads, a feedingmechanism for advancing the work to the deflecting mechanism, and apresser foot mechanism for holding the work against the drag of thethread-deflecting mechanism, said presser-foot mechanism comprising ayieldingly-depressed bar having independent means for yieldingly engaging the work around the path of. movement of the thread-deflectingmechanism. 21. In combination mechanism for removing body threads fromfabric to produce 22. A thread-drawing machine having, in.

combination, thread-deflecting means, feeding and presser-footmechanisms cooperating to advance the work relatively to the deflectingmeans, thread-cutting mechanism comprising a thread-cutter, aledger-blade coiiperating therewith, and means for adjusting said ledgerblade relatively to the path of movement of said cutter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in'the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. comprislng a rotary thread-cutter; a carrlerV CHARLES R. SWAIN. Witnesses:

(Isms. MOO. CHAPMAN, Marcus B. APPEL,

